Illuminated keyboard and backlight module

ABSTRACT

An illuminated keyboard includes a keyboard module, a circuit board and a backlight module. The keyboard module includes a bracket and at least one first key cap, disposed above the bracket. At least one side-emitting element and a top-emitting element are disposed at the circuit board. The backlight module is disposed below the keyboard module and includes a light guide plate having a slot. The at least one side-emitting element extends into the slot such that the light emitted from the at least one side-emitting element enters the light guide plate. The light passes through a light output zone of the bracket and illuminate the at least one first key cap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 63/242,498, filed on Sep. 10, 2021. The entirety ofthe above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated byreference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a keyboard, and particularly relates to anilluminated keyboard.

Description of Related Art

With the advancement of technology, light emitting functions to beprovided by illuminated keyboard keys become more and more diverse. Howto integrate the light sources of the illuminated keyboard to illuminatespecific keys and modules is a target of the filed.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides an illuminated keyboard having a top-emittingelement and a side-emitting element.

An embodiment of the illuminated keyboard of the disclosure includes akeyboard module, a circuit board and a backlight module. The keyboardmodule includes a bracket and at least one first key cap disposed abovethe bracket. At least one side-emitting element and a top-emittingelement are disposed at the circuit board. The backlight module isdisposed below the keyboard module and includes a light guide platehaving a slot. The at least one side-emitting element extends into theslot such that the light emitted from the side-emitting element entersthe light guide plate, passes through a light output zone of the bracketand illuminate the at least one first key cap.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the circuit board includes a first surface facing towards the at leastone first key cap and a second surface facing away from the at least onefirst key cap, the top-emitting element is disposed on the firstsurface, and the at least one side-emitting element is disposed on thesecond surface.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the circuit board is disposed between the backlight module and thekeyboard module.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the illuminated keyboard further includes a mask layer, wherein the masklayer is disposed between the circuit board and the keyboard module orbetween the circuit board and the backlight module, the mask layerincludes a transparent zone, light emitted from the top-emitting elementor the at least one side-emitting element emitted to the at least onefirst key cap through the transparent zone.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the backlight module includes a reflector, the light guide plate and thecircuit board are located between the bracket and the reflector.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the bracket includes a first segment and a second segment, anorthographic projection of the at least one first key cap projected tothe bracket is located at the first segment, and an orthographicprojection of the top-emitting element projected to the bracket islocated at the second segment.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the illuminated keyboard further includes a touch module or a second keycap disposed above the second segment of the bracket so that thetop-emitting element is located below the touch module or the second keycap and emits towards the touch module or the second key cap.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,a top surface of the second key cap or the touch module and a topsurface of the first key cap are at a same height.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,a level height of the first segment of the bracket is lower than a levelheight of the second segment of the bracket, and the first key cap has agreater keystroke travel distance than the second key cap.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,an accommodating space is formed below the second segment of thebracket, and the circuit board is located in the accommodating space.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the illuminated keyboard further includes a spacer located between thebracket and the circuit board or between the circuit board and thebacklight module.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the illuminated keyboard further includes at least one mask member, theat least one side-emitting element includes a plurality of side-emittingelements, each of the at least one mask member is disposed on the lightguide plate and located between two adjacent side-emitting elements.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the light guide plate includes at least one mask opening, and the atleast one mask member is disposed in the at least one mask opening.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the mask member is a mask fence, the mask fence surrounds three sides ofone of the side-emitting elements.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the illuminated keyboard further includes a reflecting module, the lightguide plate is located between the reflecting module and the keyboardmodule, the reflecting module includes a pattern formed by pigments.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the reflecting module is an e-Paper module.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the circuit board includes a first surface facing towards the at leastone first key cap and a second surface facing away from the at least onefirst key cap, the top-emitting element and the at least oneside-emitting element are disposed on the first surface, the circuitboard is disposed below the backlight module.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the backlight module includes a reflector, the reflector is locatedbetween the light guide plate and the circuit board, the reflectorincludes at least one accommodating hole accommodating the top-emittingelement and the at least one side-emitting element.

In a illuminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure,the illuminated keyboard further includes a touch module disposed on thebracket, wherein the touch module includes a touch plate and a lightguide layer, the circuit board is disposed between the touch module andthe backlight module.

An embodiment of the backlight module of the disclosure includes acircuit board and a backlight module. At least one side-emitting elementand a top-emitting element are disposed at the circuit board. Thebacklight module includes a light guide plate having a slot. The atleast one side-emitting element extends into the slot such that thelight emitted from the at least one side-emitting element enters thelight guide plate.

In summary, the illuminated keyboard provided by the embodiments of thedisclosure includes one circuit board on which the at least oneside-emitting element and the top-emitting element are integrated. Theat least one side-emitting element emits light from its side toilluminate the first key caps while the top-emitting element emits lightupwardly to illuminate the second key cap or the touch module on the topthereof. In this way, the disclosure is capable to illuminate specifickeys or different modules with reduced elements and space.

Several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail asfollows for further comprehension.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7A is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7B is a top view of the illuminated keyboard of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of the illuminated keyboard according toFIG. 9 .

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Descriptions of the disclosure are given with reference to the exemplaryembodiments illustrated by the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible,the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the descriptionto refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.With reference to FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the illuminated keyboard100 includes a keyboard module 110, a circuit board 150 and a backlightmodule 160.

The keyboard module 110 includes a bracket 111, a circuit membrane 120disposed on the bracket 111, at least one first key cap 130 disposed onthe bracket 111 and a second key cap 134 disposed on the bracket 111.The first key cap 130 may be a normal input key cap, and the second keycap 134 may be a function key cap, but types of the first key cap 130and the second key cap 134 are not limited thereto. In the embodiment, atop surface 132 of the first key cap 130 and a top surface 136 of thesecond key cap 134 are at a same height, so as to provide consistency inappearance.

The circuit membrane 120 may be, for example, a copper foil substrate oran etching circuit membrane 120 (TCM), but type of the circuit membrane120 is not limited thereto. In the embodiment, supporting structures 122and elastic members 124 are disposed between the bracket 111 and thefirst key cap 130 and between the bracket 111 and the second key cap134. The supporting structures 122 and elastic members 124 togetherdetermine the keystroke travel distance of the corresponding key andallow the first key cap 130 and the second key cap 134 move up and downreciprocally.

The circuit board 150 is disposed between the backlight module 160 andkeyboard module 110. The circuit board 150 includes a first surface 152facing towards the first key cap 130 and the second key cap 134 and asecond surface 154 facing away from the first key cap 130 and the secondkey cap 134. The circuit board 150 can be a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)or Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC). In the embodiment, the circuitboard 150 is located below the second key cap 134 and does not extend toa position below the first key cap 130 so as to reduce occupancy belowthe first key cap 132, but the arrangement of the circuit board 150 isnot limited thereto.

In the embodiment, at least one side-emitting element 156 and atop-emitting element 158 are disposed at the circuit board 150. Thetop-emitting element 158 is disposed on the first surface 152, and theside-emitting element 156 is disposed on the second surface 154. Theside-emitting element 156 is a light emitting element that mainly emitslight from its side surface, and the top-emitting element 158 is a lightemitting element that mainly emits light from its top surface. Examplesof the side-emitting element and top-emitting element include but notlimited to LEDs.

FIG. 1 shows one first key cap 130 and one side-emitting element 156,but in other embodiment, the number of the first key cap 130 and theside-emitting element 156 may be two or more. The number of the firstkey cap 130 may be or may not be corresponding to the number of theside-emitting element 156.

The backlight module 160 is disposed below the keyboard module 110 andincludes a light guide plate 162 and a reflector 166. The light guideplate 162 has a least one slot 163 for insertion of the side-emittingelement 156. In the embodiment, the light guide plate 162 and thecircuit board 150 are located between the bracket 111 and the reflector166, and the circuit board 150 is disposed between the bracket 111 ofthe keyboard module 110 and the light guide plate 162 of the backlightmodule 160, allowing the side-emitting element 156 extend into the slot163 of the light guide plate 162, but the arrangement is not limitedthereto.

The illuminated keyboard 100 further includes a mask layer 170 for lightshielding, the mask layer 170 is disposed between the circuit board 150and the backlight module 160. The mask layer 170 includes a transparentzone 172 through which the lights could pass. Preferably, the mask layer170 may be a black Mylar layer, and the transparent zone 172 may be athrough hole corresponding to the first key cap 130.

In the embodiment, the side-emitting element 156 is distant from thefirst key cap 130 in a horizontal direction. The light emitted from theside-emitting element 156 enters the light guide plate 162 through theslot 163, and then transmits within the light guide plate 162, reflectedby the reflector 166, and finally passes through the transparent zone172 of the mask layer 170, a light output zone 112 of the bracket 111,circuit membrane 120 and emits towards the first key cap 130. In otherembodiment, where the number of the first key caps 130 is two or more,light emitted from the side-emitting element 156 is capable oftransmitting along the light guide plate 162 so as to provide a widetransmission of optical effect for illuminating more of the first keycaps 130.

Moreover, the top-emitting element 158 is located below the second keycap 134, and may extend into the light output zone 113 of the bracket111. Light emitted from the top-emitting element 158 transmits upwardlytowards the second key cap 134. In other words, the top-emitting element158 is used for providing unique optical effect exclusively for thesecond key cap 134.

It is noted that, in the embodiment, the at least one side-emittingelement 156 and the top-emitting element 158 are integrated to the samecircuit board 150 in the illuminated keyboard 100, such that thearrangement of the elements of the illuminated keyboard 100 can besimplified, and the illuminated keyboard 100 can save more space.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 a according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 2 , the main difference between FIG.1 and FIG. 2 is as below. In FIG. 1 , the circuit board 150 is disposedbetween the mask layer 170 and the keyboard module 110, and theside-emitting element 156 penetrates through the mask layer 170 andextends into the slot 163 of the light guide plate 162. In thisembodiment of FIG. 2 , the mask layer 170 is disposed between thekeyboard module 110 and the circuit board 150. The top-emitting element158 penetrates through the mask layer 170 and extends into the lightoutput zone 113 of the bracket 111.

In this embodiment, lights emitted from the side-emitting element 156and the top-emitting element 158 transmit in a similar way as describedin the preceding embodiment. However, in the embodiment, the circuitboard 150 is located between the mask layer 170 and the light guideplate 162, such that the side-emitting element 156 is entirely coveredby the mask layer 170, thereby reducing chances of light leaking of theside-emitting element 156 from the mask layer 170.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 b according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, thetop-emitting element 158 and the at least one side-emitting element 156are both disposed on the first surface 152 (the top surface) of thecircuit board 150 b, and the circuit board 150 b is disposed below thebacklight module 160. In other words, the circuit board 150 b may be asingle sided circuit board, but it is not limited thereto.

In this embodiment, the reflector 166 is located between the light guideplate 162 and the circuit board 150 b. The reflector 166 includes atleast one accommodating hole 168 for accommodating the top-emittingelement 158 and the at least one side-emitting element 156. That is, thetop-emitting element 158 and the at least one side-emitting element 156may pass through respective accommodating holes 168 or one commonaccommodating hole 168 of the reflector 166. The side-emitting element156 extends into the slot 163 of the light guide plate 162, such thatlight emitted from the side-emitting element 156 enters the light guideplate 162 through the slot 163, and then transmits within the lightguide plate 162, and emit towards the first key cap 130.

The top-emitting element 158 also extends into the slot 163 of the lightguide plate 162, yet light emitted from the top-emitting element 158emits upwardly directly toward the second key cap 134 without via atransmission within the light guide plate 162.

In this embodiment, a single sided circuit board 150 b can be utilizedto reduce the complexity and space taken by the circuit board 150 b. Inaddition, the top-emitting element 158 and the at least oneside-emitting element 156 do not penetrate through the mask layer 170,thereby reducing chances of light leaking from the mask layer 170.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 c according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 4 , in this embodiment, the secondkey cap 134 in FIG. 3 is replaced by the touch module 140 to furtherprovide a touch function. For instance, the touch module 140 may beconfigured to determine information such as a finger movement directionor gestures such as pinching, swiping and dragging. The touch module 140may feature a capacitive design, but type of the touch module 140 is notlimited thereto.

The circuit board 150 c is disposed between the touch pad module 140 andthe backlight module 160. In the embodiment, the circuit board 150 c isbetween the touch module 140 and the bracket 111 of the keyboard module110. The touch module 140 may include a touch plate 142, a light guidelayer 144, a masking film 146 and a reflecting film 148. The circuitboard 150 c is disposed below the reflecting film 148 and disposed onthe bracket 111.

A touch circuit (not shown) is formed on the first surface 152 of thecircuit board 150 c so as to provide a touch function. In other words,the circuit board 150 c is the circuit board not only for theside-emitting element 156 and the top-emitting element 158, but also forthe touch module 140.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the top-emitting element 158 is disposed on thefirst surface 152 of the circuit board 150, penetrates through thereflecting film 148 and extends into the light guide layer 144. Lightemitted from the top-emitting element 158 enters the light guide layer144 and emits from a transparent zone of the masking film 146 so as toprovide specific optical effect to the touch plate 142. Certainly, alight path of the light emitted from the top-emitting element 158 is notlimited thereto.

The side-emitting element 156 is disposed on the second surface 154 ofthe circuit board 150, penetrates through the bracket 111, the masklayer 170 and extends into the light guide plate 162. Light emitted fromthe side-emitting element 156 enters the light guide plate 162 and emitstowards the first key cap 130.

In addition, in the embodiment, a top surface 141 of the touch module140 and the top surface 132 of the first key cap 130 are at a sameheight, so as to provide consistency in appearance. However, it is notlimited thereto.

It is noted that, in this embodiment, the touch circuit, theside-emitting element 156 and the top-emitting element 158 areintegrated to the same circuit board 150 c in the illuminated keyboard100 c, such that the arrangement of the elements of the illuminatedkeyboard 100 c can be simplified to save more space.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 d according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, the bracket111 d includes a first segment 116 and a second segment 115. The firstsegment 116 of the bracket 111 d corresponds to the first key cap 130,and the second segment 115 of the bracket 111 d corresponds to thetop-emitting element 158. Hence, an orthographic projection of the atleast one first key cap 130 projected to the bracket 111 d is located atthe first segment 116, and an orthographic projection of thetop-emitting element 158 projected to the bracket 111 d is located atthe second segment 115.

In the embodiment, the second key cap 134 d is disposed above the secondsegment 115 so that the top-emitting element 158 is located below thesecond key cap 134 d and emits towards the second key cap 134 d.

It is worth mentioning that, in the embodiment, the bracket 111 d isbent, so that a level height of the first segment 116 of the bracket 111d is lower than a level height of the second segment 115 of the bracket111 d, by a height difference H. However, in other embodiment, the firstsegment 116 and the second segment 115 may be located at the same plane,it is not limited thereto.

The top surface 136 of the second key cap 134 d and the top surface 132of the first key cap 130 are at a same height, so as to provideconsistency in appearance. Moreover, the first key cap 130 and thesecond key cap 134 d may be arranged in different sizes, for instance,as shown in FIG. 5 , the size of the first key cap 130 can be greaterthan that of the second key cap 134 d. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5 ,the first key cap 130 may be arranged with a greater keystroke traveldistance than the second key cap 134 d, in order to adapt differentlevel heights of the first segment 116 and the second segment 115.

Due to the bent shape of the bracket 111 d, an accommodating space 117is formed below the second segment 115 of the bracket 111 d, and thecircuit board 150 is located in the accommodating space 117. Inaddition, the illuminated keyboard 100 may further include a spacer 174located between the second segment 115 of the bracket 111 d and thecircuit board 150 or between the circuit board 150 and the backlightmodule 160 so as to maintain the position of the circuit board 150.

The arrangement and transmission of the side-emitting element 156 andthe top-emitting element 158 in the embodiment are similar to thepreceding embodiment of FIG. 1 . However, it is noted that theconfiguration of the accommodating space 117 generates more space andflexibility for different arrangements of the circuit board 150.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 e according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 6 , the main difference between FIG.4 and FIG. 6 is that, in this embodiment, the bracket 111 d is bent, sothat a level height of the first segment 116 of the bracket 111 d islower than a level height of the second segment 115 of the bracket 111d. The touch module 140 is located above the second segment 115.

In this embodiment, a smaller touch module 140 can be adapted to theilluminated keyboard 100 e so that the top surface of the touch module140 can have a same height as the top surface 132 of the first key cap130, so as to provide consistency in appearance.

The spacer 174 e may be optionally arranged below the second segment 115of the bracket 111 d so as to support the bracket 111 d and the touchmodule 140.

FIG. 7A is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 f according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 7A, the first main difference betweenFIG. 5 and FIG. 7A is as below. In FIG. 5 , the circuit board 150 islocated below the second segment 115 of the bracket 111 d and does notextend to a position below the first segment 116 of the bracket 111 d.In this embodiment of FIG. 7A, the circuit board 150 is disposed belowthe first segment 116 and the second segment 115 of the bracket 111 d.

FIG. 7B is a top view of the illuminated keyboard of FIG. 7A. It isnoted that the first key cap 130 and the second key cap 134 are omittedin FIG. 7B so as to show the elements below. In addition, FIG. 7A is thesectional view along lines A-A of FIG. 7B.

The second main difference between FIG. 5 and FIG. 7A is as below. Withreference to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the illuminated keyboard 100 f furtherincludes at least one mask member 176. The light guide plate 162includes at least one mask opening 164, the at least one mask member 176is disposed in the at least one mask opening 164. The mask member 176 isa light blocking material used for preventing light leaking orpreventing optical interference from adjacent side-emitting element 156.

In this embodiment, there are a plurality of mask members 176 and aplurality of side-emitting elements 156. As shown in FIG. 7B, theside-emitting elements 156 are arranged in matrix. Each of the maskmembers 176 surrounds a corresponding side-emitting element 156 andencompasses an area of the light guide plate 162. In the embodiment,each of the mask members 176 is a mask fence surrounding three sides ofthe corresponding side-emitting element 156. Certainly, the type of themask member 176 is not limited thereto.

In other embodiments, the mask members 176 may be formed directly on thelight guide plate 162 by laser or other treatment. For instances,regions of the light guide plate 162 may be hardening, cutting into ablind hole or through hole, or color tempering into a darker color, toform the mask members 176. In these embodiments, there is no need forconfiguration of mask opening 164.

As shown in FIG. 7A, each of the mask members 176 is disposed in thelight guide plate 162 and located between two adjacent side-emittingelements 156. In addition, an orthographic projection of the first keycap 130 projected to the light guide plate 162 overlaps with the areaencompassed by the mask member 176.

That is, light emitted from the side-emitting element 156 enters thelight guide plate 162 and transmits within the corresponding area of thelight guide plate 162 encompassed by the mask member 176. In FIG. 7A,light transmitted from the light guide plate 162 may only be led towardthe corresponding first key cap 130, such that a combination of theside-emitting element 156, the light guide plate 162 and the mask member176 may be used for providing unique optical effect exclusively for thecorresponding first key cap 130.

In the embodiment, the mask members 176 and the mask opening 164 arelocated between orthographic projections of two adjacent first key caps130 projected to the light guide plate 162. However, in otherembodiment, the mask members 176 and the mask opening 164 mayalternatively be within the range of an orthographic projection of thecorresponding first key cap 130 projected to the light guide plate 162.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 g according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 8 , the main difference between FIG.5 and FIG. 8 is below. In FIG. 5 , the reflector 166 is disposed belowthe light guide plate 162, the reflector 166 may be a metal plate or areflecting film 148. In this embodiment, the reflector 166 in FIG. 5 isreplaced by a reflecting module 180. The light guide plate 162 islocated between the reflecting module 180 and the bracket 111 d of thekeyboard module 110, and the reflecting module 180 includes a patternformed by pigments (not shown).

In this embodiment, the reflecting module 180 is an e-Paper module usingMicroencapsulated ElectroPhoretic Display technology that rearrangescharged pigment particles for visualization different patterns byapplied electric field. Certainly, type of the reflecting module 180 isnot limited thereto. In other embodiment, the reflecting module 180 maybe a reflecting plate including a printed pattern. In addition, theilluminated keyboard 100 g may further include the mask member 176 toprevent light leaking or optical interference.

In the embodiment, light emitted from the side-emitting element 156enters the light guide plate 162, transmits within the light guide plate162 and is reflected by the reflecting module 180. The pattern of thereflecting module 180 is illuminated by the light, and the image of thepattern can be seen from the first key cap 130. Meanwhile, light emittedfrom the top-emitting element 158 transmits upwardly, passes through thebracket 111 d and the circuit membrane 120, and emits toward the secondkey cap 134 d. The first key cap 130 and the second key cap 134 d are atleast partially made by light transmissive material, preferablytransparent material, so that the image can be seen.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged schematic sectional view of anilluminated keyboard 100 h according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. With reference to FIG. 9 , the main difference between FIG.7A and FIG. 9 is that, the reflector 166 of FIG. 7 is replaced by thereflecting module 180 of FIG. 9 , as illustrated in the embodiment ofFIG. 8 . It is apparent that the reflecting plate 160 in otherembodiments may also be replaced by the reflecting model 180.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of the illuminated keyboard 100 haccording to FIG. 9 . With reference to FIG. 10 , by provision of thereflecting module 180 (FIG. 9 ), images, in addition to symbols andcharacters, can be present from the first key cap 130 and second key cap134 d, to deliver or feedback messages with more abounding information.The images, symbols and characters shown on the first key caps 130 andsecond key caps 134 d can be changed by rearrangement of the pigmentparticles composing the pattern of the reflecting module 180 or simplysubstituting the reflecting module 180 with one having an alternativeprinted pattern.

To sum up, the illuminated keyboard provided by the embodiments of thedisclosure includes one circuit board on which the at least oneside-emitting element and the top-emitting element are integrated. Theat least one side-emitting element emits light from its side toilluminate the first key cap while the top-emitting element emits lightupwardly to illuminate the second key cap or the touch module on the topthereof. In this way, the embodiment of the disclosure is capable toilluminate specific keys or different modules with reduced elements andspace.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodimentsand features can be exchanged or applied between the disclosedembodiments, without departing from the scope or spirit of thedisclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the disclosurecovers modifications and variations fall within the scope of thefollowing claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An illuminated keyboard, comprising: a keyboardmodule, comprising: a bracket; and at least one first key cap, disposedabove the bracket; a circuit board, wherein at least one side-emittingelement and a top-emitting element are disposed at the circuit board;and a backlight module, disposed below the keyboard module andcomprising: a light guide plate having a slot; wherein the at least oneside-emitting element extends into the slot such that the light emittedfrom the at least one side-emitting element enters the light guideplate, the light passes through a light output zone of the bracket andilluminate the at least one first key cap.
 2. The illuminated keyboardaccording to claim 1, wherein the circuit board comprises a firstsurface facing towards the at least one first key cap and a secondsurface facing away from the at least one first key cap, thetop-emitting element is disposed on the first surface, and the at leastone side-emitting element is disposed on the second surface.
 3. Theilluminated keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board isdisposed between the backlight module and the keyboard module.
 4. Theilluminated keyboard according to claim 3, further comprising a masklayer, wherein the mask layer is disposed between the circuit board andthe keyboard module or between the circuit board and the backlightmodule, the mask layer comprises a transparent zone, light emitted fromthe top-emitting element or the at least one side-emitting elementemitted to the at least one first key cap through the transparent zone.5. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the backlightmodule comprises a reflector, the light guide plate and the circuitboard are located between the bracket and the reflector.
 6. Theilluminated keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the bracket comprisesa first segment and a second segment, an orthographic projection of theat least one first key cap projected to the bracket is located at thefirst segment, and an orthographic projection of the top-emittingelement projected to the bracket is located at the second segment. 7.The illuminated keyboard according to claim 6, further comprising atouch module or a second key cap disposed above the second segment ofthe bracket so that the top-emitting element is located below the touchmodule or the second key cap and emits towards the touch module or thesecond key cap.
 8. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 7,wherein a top surface of the second key cap or the touch module and atop surface of the first key cap are at a same height.
 9. Theilluminated keyboard according to claim 7, wherein a level height of thefirst segment of the bracket is lower than a level height of the secondsegment of the bracket, and the first key cap has a greater keystroketravel distance than the second key cap.
 10. The illuminated keyboardaccording to claim 9, wherein an accommodating space is formed below thesecond segment of the bracket, and the circuit board is located in theaccommodating space.
 11. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 10,further comprising a spacer, located between the bracket and the circuitboard or between the circuit board and the backlight module.
 12. Theilluminated keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising at leastone mask member, the at least one side-emitting element comprises aplurality of side-emitting elements, each of the at least one maskmember is disposed on the light guide plate and located between twoadjacent side-emitting elements.
 13. The illuminated keyboard accordingto claim 12, wherein the light guide plate comprises at least one maskopening, and the at least one mask member is disposed in the at leastone mask opening.
 14. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 12,wherein the mask member is a mask fence, the mask fence surrounds threesides of one of the side-emitting elements.
 15. The illuminated keyboardaccording to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting module, the lightguide plate is located between the reflecting module and the keyboardmodule, the reflecting module comprises a pattern formed by pigments.16. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 15, wherein thereflecting module is an e-Paper module.
 17. The illuminated keyboardaccording to claim 1, wherein the circuit board comprises a firstsurface facing towards the at least one first key cap and a secondsurface facing away from the at least one first key cap, thetop-emitting element and the at least one side-emitting element aredisposed on the first surface, the circuit board is disposed below thebacklight module.
 18. The illuminated keyboard according to claim 17,wherein the backlight module comprises a reflector, the reflector islocated between the light guide plate and the circuit board, thereflector comprises a least one accommodating hole accommodating thetop-emitting element and the at least one side-emitting element.
 19. Theilluminated keyboard according to claim 7, wherein the touch modulecomprises a touch plate and a light guide layer, the circuit board isdisposed between the touch module and the backlight module.
 20. Abacklight module, comprising: a circuit board, wherein at least oneside-emitting element and a top-emitting element are disposed at thecircuit board; and a backlight module, comprising: a light guide platehaving a slot; wherein the at least one side-emitting element extendsinto the slot such that the light emitted from the at least oneside-emitting element enters the light guide plate.